Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 1.djvu/178

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148


VIRGINIA BIOGRAPPIY


who was so long a prominent figure in the colony, and was born at '"Carter's Creek," Gloucester county, Feb. 4, 1672. His father's influence and large estate brought the son into public life at an early age and he was chosen speaker of the house of burgesses in 1695, being probably the most youthful occupant of that chair. On May 14, 1702, on the recom- mendation of the governor, the (Jueen ap- pointed him a member of the council. Though recommended by Nicholson, Ludwell was one of the party who opposed him and finally suc- ceeded in having him remuved from office. Ludwell's official life appears to have con- tinued to run smoothly, he sat regularly at the meetings of the council, was appointed one of the trustees of the new college at Williams- burg in 1706. and 1709 was made a commis- sioner on the })art of Virginia for establishing the boundary line with North Carolina. In 171 1 he was appointed auditor of \'irginia by Gov. Spotswood, who seems at first to have been favorably impressed with him. The good will between them did not last, however. The I.udwells, always on the side of the people, did not hesitate to oppose the governor in what they considered usurpations of the popu- lar rights, and accordingly, when the clash be- tv/een the house of burgesses and Spotswood occurred, the colonel sided with the former. So highly was the governor incensed that he suspended Ludwell from the office of auditor and accused him of mismanagement of the finances. There was a considerable dispute over this order, but the English authorities finally upheld Spotswood and appointed an- other in Ludwell's place. This did not, how- ever, discourage that gentleman in his rcsist- ence to the governor, and in 1718 he sided with Commissary Blair in his dispute with Spotswood relative to the appointment of min-


isters to the \"irginia churches. In this matter they were entirely successful in their opposi- tion to him, though this and other disputes continued for sometime. These dififerences were finally composed in 1720, after which date there is scarcely any record of Ludwell's public life save the reports of his constant attendance at the council. He died Jan. 11, 1726-27.

Quarry, Robert, was appointed a member of the council in the commission of Oct. 16, 1702. and on Dec. 17, wrote the lords of trade that he had arrived in the colony about the middle of October. He made a visit to Eng- land the following year, but was again in A'ir- ginia in Sept., 1703, and in October of the same year was appointed surveyor-general of the customs in America, in which office he played- an active part in the aft'airs of the colony. Like his predecessors in this office, lie was so frequently absent in England that he can hardly be said to have been a citizen of \irginia at all. He sat as councillor in 1707 and 1709-10, and, under a new commission, was present and took the oaths as councillor, July 21, 1712. The colonial records contain no further information concerning him.

Duke, Henry, of James City county, was a jrstice of that county in 1680, sheriff in 1699 and member of the house of burgesses in 1692, 1696, 1699, 1700, and probably in the follow- ing year. In 1700 he was a member of the committee appointed to review the laws and, on May 14, 1702, was appointed by the Queen, a member of the council. He continued a member and a regular attendant at the sessions of that body until his death, the last record of his attendance being in 1713. It appears that he was also commander of the militia in James City county in 1710, for on Aug.